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When it comes to planning a vacation, one thing that most people want to do is find the best deal possible so they can save. Who wants to pay more for the same package when they can get it for a lot less. If your travel dates are flexible and you are able to travel at any time, you should consider booking your trip during the off peak season. I remember before I had my kids my husband and I used to travel during off peak months and had some of the best vacations we’ve every had. Some of the perks for booking your vacation during off peak months include the following things:

For one thing, when booking your trip during off peak times for a destination you should be able to save money. Travel is all about supply and demand, when it is the peak travel season there is a higher demand so prices go up while during the off peak times prices are usually cheaper. During the off peak season, hotels and even airlines don’t want there to be any empty rooms or seats so they sometimes offer lower prices to entice people to book with them. I know that when we used to travel during these times we would sometimes pay almost half the price for the same vacation during off peak months as compared to the peak season.

During the off peak travel season for a particular destination, another thing that you will surely enjoy are the smaller crowds. Whether it being a beach vacation in the Riviera Maya or a trip to Disneyland, traveling during the so called slow times of a destination allows you to to enjoy the destination more in my opinion as you don’t have to worry about others who are also visiting. On a trip I took to Jamaica, we traveled during the off season and absolutely enjoyed ourselves as there weren’t many people on the beaches, we could easily get a table at any restaurant and all of the activities we wanted to do was available even though we didn’t book them in advance.

A third reason why you should consider traveling during this time is because you will have a lot of options. As mentioned above with the prices being cheaper, you possibly have the chance to stay at a luxury resort that you may have not been able to afford if you’ve traveled during a different time. Again this is one of the great things about taking a vacation during this time, it allows you to take the vacation you’ve always wanted to go on but for a price that you can afford. Maybe stay at a luxury beach resort and spend some time at a spa, you have a lot of options as things are going to be more affordable.

If you decide you want to take an off peak vacation, make sure you first figure out when the slower months are for a destination so you get the best price. After that, book that dream vacation and save!

If you currently live on the East Coast, you’re going through one of the coldest Winters of all time with snow upon snow. I know for me as I freeze my tail off, all I can do is dream about a vacation someplace warm. With a lot of people taking beach vacations right now to destinations like the Riviera Maya and Punta Cana to get away from the cold, there is the potential that for some destinations the prices have gone up due to the demand. If you are anything like me, it can be hard to save up for a vacation as you spend your money on a lot of different things that you might not need. If you’re looking for ways to save so you can go on that vacation you’ve been dreaming about, these are some things that you can try to do.

One idea to help you save so you can afford your trip is to make your own coffee. For most people, including myself, they can’t get their days started without having coffee. With this most of them head to places like Starbucks everyday where they buy their coffee and usually spend at least $5 per cup. If you add this up for the entire week, this does cost a lot of money. I know for some making their own coffee can be difficult as they don’t have the time or don’t like the taste, but doing this can help you save.

A second idea to help you save for that vacation is to stop eating out. When I recently started saving for a past vacation I was looking at what my largest expense was and this was it. If you have the time and are able to make your own meals, this will help you save. With most people they usually go out for lunch during the work week and sometimes go out to dinner with friends, but if you are able to cut this out, it will help you reach your savings goal more quickly.

This might be the toughest thing to do for some now due to all the snow we’re getting, but try to avoid driving to work and instead walk or ride your bike. This idea is more for those who aren’t dealing with really bad weather as I know for me it’s impossible to walk anywhere in this snow. While gas prices have been lower as of lately, this is definitely an expense you can cut out by walking or riding your bike.

A fourth idea and something I wasn’t able to do but you could possibly is cancelling your cable. For most people with their cable bills, they are usually paying over $100 a month for channels they don’t even watch. With things like Hulu, iTunes and Netflix, there are a lot of cheaper options available that will allow you to stay up to date with your favorite TV shows while allowing you to pay a lot less.

I know it can sometimes be hard to save up for a vacation as it’s hard to cut your costs, but just remember that it will be all worth it when you’re lounging on a beach with a drink in your hand while you work on your tan.

So I recently got back from a trip that I took with my husband where we got the chance to visit Fiji. This is the first time that I have ever been here and it is truly is an amazing destination. Once I got to the island and took a look around, I felt like I was in a different world as I was no longer surrounded by snow but instead I was some place tropical with crystal clear water and amazing vegetation. If you’re thinking about going on vacation to Fiji and are wondering what types of activities to tryout while visiting, these were some of my favorites from my trip.

With you visiting such an amazing beach destination, you need to tryout out some of the water activities. Fiji is home to some of the best beaches, that includes the Coral Coast. One of my favorite activities that we did on our trip was scuba diving. As mentioned before, the water is very clear so it makes it easy to see all the different types of fish that make their homes here. I swear when we went scuba diving, we’ve must of seen at least a hundred different types of fish. Other water activities that you can enjoy in Fiji include kayaking, surfing in Viti Levu, fishing, sailing and so many other water activities. With there being so many different options to chose from, you can spend your whole trip in the water, which isn’t such a bad thing.

If you don’t want to spend your whole vacation at the beach and instead are interested in learning a little more about Fiji, one place that you should visit is the Fiji Museum. The Fiji Museum is full of rich history of the area with artifacts that go as way back as 3,700 years ago. Some of the types of artifacts that you can see include things like jewelry, Indian artwork, cannibal forks as well as a lot of other things. The price of admission is very cheap with it costing around $4 per person and is open Monday-Saturday. For me when I go on vacation to some place new, I like to learn more about the destinations history and this museum was really great as it had so many interesting things on display.

A third activity to consider on your Fiji vacation is checking out the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. Located in the Nausori Highlands on the island of Viti Levu, at the Garden of the Sleeping Giant you are able to see a wide range of orchids that are growing here. I know for some of you this might not sound like such an interesting activity to partake in, but if you love nature and enjoy seeing beautiful things, I recommend checking this out. The Garden of the Sleeping Giant is open Monday – Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

I must admit that this was a once in a lifetime trip and recommend considering Fiji for a future vacation.

With it being the start of the new year and most of us being stuck in the freezing cold, now is the time to start thinking about that beach vacation you’re going to take this year. I know for me over the last couple of days as I’ve had to deal with the snow, in my spare time I’ve been looking up different destinations to visit. The good thing if you’re like me and looking to get some place warm and tropical soon, there are some good travel packages available. The hardest part for me right now in regards to planning this beach getaway is deciding on where to go. If you need help deciding on which destination to visit for your vacation, these are some of the spots that I’m currently considering.

At the top of my list for my beach getaway, I currently have Maui. I had the chance to visit here a while ago for a family vacation and absolutely loved it. Maui is home to some of the best luxury resorts in Hawaii and also has some of the best beaches. The thing that I enjoy about the beaches in Maui as compared to the main Hawaiian island of Oahu is the fact that the beaches aren’t crowded. One of my favorite beaches on Maui that I’ve visited is Honokalani beach. The thing that makes Honokalani beach so unique is the fact that the sand here is black. The only negative about Maui and the reason why I haven’t booked this trip yet is due to it being expensive to visit. Out of all of the islands in Hawaii, Maui has the most expensive hotel rates and the airfare alone can cost the same amount as trip with everything included near where you live.

The second destination on my list for my 2015 beach vacation is Cancun. Cancun may be best know as a spot where college kids let loose during Spring Break but it offers so much more. Out of all of the beach spots my family has visited, Cancun has always been one of our favorites. One of the reasons why we love visiting Cancun is because it offers so many different things to do. For instance my husband and my husband love to go deep sea fishing while on vacation here while my daughter and I enjoy something more relaxed like a day at the spa. If you are looking for a destination that offers a lot of fun water activities as well as the chance to experience a new culture, than Cancun might be the spot for you.

The third contender on my list is the Bahamas. The last time my family vacationed here we stayed at the Atlantis Resort and had an absolute blast. When they talk about mega resorts, this has to be one of the list. While staying here our entire family did a lot of different activities from lounging at one of the many pools here as well as trying out there water slide. Even if you decide not to stay at this resort, the island of the Bahamas offers a lot of different things that you can enjoy while on your trip.

So these are my top options right now for my escape plan out of the cold. Let me know what you think of these destinations in the comment section or let me know of one I should consider.

If you’re looking for an amazing spot for a vacation that offers everything from history, amazing sites to see and so much more, one destination to consider is Rome, Italy. Rome is home to many of the things that all great vacation spots need: culture, history, great food, and amazing people. Italy’s charismatic capital was the hub of the ancient Roman Empire, the start of the Olympic Games, and overflows with great Renaissance and Baroque art that comes to life in original settings. Rome is also a living, breathing painting by itself, where people can go to just wind down or party up a storm. If you are thinking about taking a trip to Rome, these are some must see activities and sights that we recommend:

The Coliseum

When one thinks of Rome, chances are that this is iconic sight is what comes to mind immediately. The circular, three-tiered archaeological landmark is amazingly still intact after and is still a sight to behold. This was the sight where 50,000 Romans would watch bloody gladiatorial contest and wild-animal hunts. When visiting here, make sure you go on a tour of the entire Coliseum so you can see everything.

Vatican City

Vatican City might not seem like a fun trip for those who aren’t religious, but it can actually be quite enlightening. It is the world’s smallest state and has a general population of just over 800 people — few of whom actually live there year-round. The most important resident, the Pope, gives an audience and a blessing on Wednesday mornings in St. Peter’s Square, dominated by the famous basilica of the same name. In the Sistine Chapel, an art lover’s paradise, is part of the Vatican Museum; see Michelangelo’s 16th-century biblical frescoes. You will never forget visiting here and seeing the art, the people, and the feeling the overall serenity. If you love to see amazing history, the Vatican City is a must stop while visiting.

Trevi Fountain

Another site that you will want to see while in Rome is the Trevi Fountain. Nicola Salvi’s 85-foot-high, 18th-century fountain, composed of sea gods and horses, is the Roman symbol of passion and romance. According to local legend, if you throw a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, a wish for a return visit to Rome will come true. Another legend says that if you throw the coin over your shoulder, your greatest wish will come true.

Campo de’ Fiori

If there is one place on this list you might not have heard of but you should definitely see, this is it. This centro ‘storico (or historic center to tourists) piazza dates from the Renaissance, but is as popular as ever. It is busy in the morning with locals, and has been in operation since the 19th century. Find anything from some wine for dinner or spices to send home. Trattorias with outdoor tables and chairs surrounding the piazza are lively places to people-watch or sit down to read a book.

Italy is an amazing spot to visit for a vacation as it offers so many different places you can see as well as so much more. If you are interested in planning a trip here, give us a call so we can help plan your vacation.

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